There are two types of people in this world: those who shower at night and those who shower in the morning. OK, there are also those who don’t shower at all. And, there are some who shower both at night and in the morning. So, I guess, there are four. But, for the sake of today’s discussion, let’s assume we all prefer a daily soap and water.
I recently had this shower-at-night or shower-in-the-morning discussion with friends. The vast majority I spoke with said they shower in the morning, with the exception being those whose work requires them to get dirty or sweaty. They prefer to shower when then get home from work.
My dad was in the latter group. When he came home from work, he needed a shower to wash away the day’s dirt and sweat. Once cleaned up, he would be ready for dinner. It was a ritual he stuck to his entire life. When I was a younger man doing manual labor, I did the same.
When the blue jeans and workboots were traded in for business suits and wingtips, I switched to showering in the morning. That became my ritual for decades, and, for the most part, still is.
When I was participating in, or coaching, wrestling, I found myself showering two to three times per day, depending on the workout schedule.
Setting a career or activity schedule aside, when is the best time of day to shower? At least one doctor says a person should always shower at night instead of the morning.
Dr. Aragona Giuseppe, general practitioner and medical advisor at Prescription Doctor, was quoted in a story in unilad.com stating that the main benefit of night-time showers is that, during the day, your body and your hair can collect airborne allergens and irritants, dirt and grime, especially in the summer months from pollen, chemicals and sweat.
“If you go to bed without showering, these will then transfer to your bed and sheets and may not only promote dirty bedding and night time allergies but could also cause itchy, irritated and dry skin as well as facial skin issues such as acne due to dirty sheets and pillow cases from day time oil and dirt,” Dr. Giuseppe said.
Fair enough. But how long should one stay in the shower? In the aforementioned article, Dermatologist Emma Amoafo-Mensah says it should be less than 10 minutes.
“Many people are spending too long in the shower. The optimal time spent should be less than 10 minutes,” she said. “Spending longer than this increases the chances of your skin feeling dry and irritated, especially if the water is too hot and you’re prone to dry skin.”
How about you? Do you shower at night or in the morning? And for how long? Send me a note and let me know. And, remember: When in doubt, take a shower.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
